Theo Hammond
2011-02-23, 08:32 AM
So i'm in a relatively high-feat low-magic D&D 3.5 game at around 11th level, so most people are being hit most of the time in melee now. Eyes are being cast to 'what i'll play if / when i die' and i was trying to think of something that might actually have a bit of AC on him, play it a little stronger on the defence than the offence.
Coming in as a straight Fighter at this level (no ToB classes allowed, just Core with Complete books) i'd be getting 17 feats (due to how our campaign works, inc Fighters getting 1 per level in this game) if i went non-human. So i was thinking i can make a fair old crack at both shield combat and TWF trees.
I was thinking that with Oversized TWF i could have an Extreme Hvy Shield (Races of Stone i think) in each hand, with the relevant Exotic Proficiency of course, and thus have the off-hand shield count as light. So both fitted with spikes and can then TWF away on the standard -2/-2 and go down the feat trees from there.
Even without magic (Magic Vestments is a common combat buff) i'd be getting +3AC from each one (so long as i remember Improved Shield Bash), +4AC with Shield Specialisation = +8AC before armour. Then there is TW Defence rout for another few points. I reckon with a medium armour and high dex in the mix i should be looking around AC30 pre-magic (so at least 5pts above the next best PC).
However its not a huge amount of damage on the offensive end, especially if i prioritise Dex over Str (its a 25pt buy-in and Hvy Armours are v rare). The game is also quite low on the magic item handouts as well, generally i'd be looking at a couple of +2s allowed and then another couple of things totalling no more than 4-5k. We do get to ask for a 'Special Thing' though, like a small unique item or house-ruling, that could be used to help (for example my Druid got Spontaneous Curing). Getting +4/+6 for the Focus->Spec->Mastery->Grt Focus->Grt Spec(12th) is a bit steep feat-wise but, if needs must, i can build that in.
The thought of even looking at Shield Bash whilst also using two shields as two melee weapons made my head hurt :)
Any thoughts? Is this even a legal build (if only a little illegal i should be able to use my 'Special Thing' to allow it, so long as its not broken)? Would Powerful Build (a Goliath say) allow for two large shields, and thus a little more damage?
So what do you reckon - has it got legs?
Coming in as a straight Fighter at this level (no ToB classes allowed, just Core with Complete books) i'd be getting 17 feats (due to how our campaign works, inc Fighters getting 1 per level in this game) if i went non-human. So i was thinking i can make a fair old crack at both shield combat and TWF trees.
I was thinking that with Oversized TWF i could have an Extreme Hvy Shield (Races of Stone i think) in each hand, with the relevant Exotic Proficiency of course, and thus have the off-hand shield count as light. So both fitted with spikes and can then TWF away on the standard -2/-2 and go down the feat trees from there.
Even without magic (Magic Vestments is a common combat buff) i'd be getting +3AC from each one (so long as i remember Improved Shield Bash), +4AC with Shield Specialisation = +8AC before armour. Then there is TW Defence rout for another few points. I reckon with a medium armour and high dex in the mix i should be looking around AC30 pre-magic (so at least 5pts above the next best PC).
However its not a huge amount of damage on the offensive end, especially if i prioritise Dex over Str (its a 25pt buy-in and Hvy Armours are v rare). The game is also quite low on the magic item handouts as well, generally i'd be looking at a couple of +2s allowed and then another couple of things totalling no more than 4-5k. We do get to ask for a 'Special Thing' though, like a small unique item or house-ruling, that could be used to help (for example my Druid got Spontaneous Curing). Getting +4/+6 for the Focus->Spec->Mastery->Grt Focus->Grt Spec(12th) is a bit steep feat-wise but, if needs must, i can build that in.
The thought of even looking at Shield Bash whilst also using two shields as two melee weapons made my head hurt :)
Any thoughts? Is this even a legal build (if only a little illegal i should be able to use my 'Special Thing' to allow it, so long as its not broken)? Would Powerful Build (a Goliath say) allow for two large shields, and thus a little more damage?
So what do you reckon - has it got legs?